Which Disney movie do you reccomend renting first?

[DisneyWorldWisher]

We're going to start watching Disney movies to prepare us for WDW.
Which ones do you reccomend we watch first?

 

[NC State]

I chose the first three options because those are Walt's movies. I just enjoy the classics overall. But I would also rent the others as well before your trip since most have an attraction or ride at WDW.

 

[princess22]

I would go with Snow White because it's the first full length animation! Start at the beginning!

 

[AJKMOM]

I chose 3 that have rides based on them: Lion King, Peter Pan, and Winnie the Pooh.

 

[MJMcBride]

I would definately pick movies that have multiple uses at Disney such as Lion King w/ its show at DAK and the movie in the Land. Plus, those characters are all over the place. What about renting some of the Mickey Mouse Cartoon collections on DVD?

Alos, before we went last time, my son enjoyed a Sing-Along DVD that took place in Disneyland which is similiar enough to MK.

 

[KarenAylwood]

We're going to start watching Disney movies to prepare us for WDW.
Which ones do you reccomend we watch first?

Well, it depends on who "us" is. Do you have a little girl? If so- Cinderella since it will get her psyched about the castle.

My personal favorite is Peter Pan- it's so "Disney" to me for some reason and the entire movie reminds me of the Peter Pan ride.

If you want to stick with those that Walt was involved with: Snow White, Cinderella, Dumbo, Peter Pan and Sleeping Beauty- and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is very influenced by Walt (it was his idea to begin with) and it's one of my all-time favs.

The Lion King is one of the best movies ever made as well as the Little Mermaid- both of which have influences in the park.

Aladdin is a great movie but doesn't psych me up about WDW- there is little involvement at Disney other than the carpet ride. Tarzan is the absolute weakest movie on the list and Tarzan Rocks closed at AK anyway so that's bottom on the list.

I personally put Snow White as #1 since it was the first full length feature animated classic and is classic Disney in my mind.

If I had to rank them in order of those that you should watch to get psyched up about the parks:
1. Snow White
2. Peter Pan
3. Cinderella
4. The Lion King
5. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
6. The Little Mermaid
7. Beauty and the Beast
8. Sleeping Beauty
9. Dumbo
10. Aladdin
11. Tarzan

Another very Disney movie is Mary Poppins- I that movie!!

If you can't tell- I'm a big Disney DVD collector and movie lover

 

[tmt martins]

For Me it's Peter Pan

Nothing says Disney more then NEVER having to grow up.

It's all about adventure and you end up home safe and sound with many great memories.

 

[SWVA BGSU Fan]

I would go with The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh or Peter Pan. IMHO, those two rides at MK are based heavily upon the movies, especially Pooh. I always wondered if parts of the Pooh ride would make sense to those who have never seen the movie. My DS6 loves both of those rides.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

Here are movies that we will be watching in the months before our trip (one a week, with the kids rewatching that same movie during the week. i am not too concerned on the order, other than we will probably alternate princess, non princess, princess, non princess...and most sequels we won't watch)

1. Peter Pan
2. Snow White
3. The Lion King
4. Cinderella
5. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
6. The Little Mermaid
7. Aladdin
8. Beauty and the Beast
9. Toy Story
10. Sleeping Beauty
11. Tarzan
12. Toy Story 2
13: Incredibles
14: Lilo and Stitch (esp since stitch has such a big presence)
15: Mary Poppins
16. Monsters Inc
17. Nemo
18. Lady and the Tramp
19. 101 Dalmations

Of those movies, we own Nemo, Monsters, Incredibles, Toy story 1 and 2, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, winie the pooh, beauty and the beast, will own little mermaid at fall release, cinderella, lion king (and lion king 2) We did own Peter pan but the kids ruined it. and it is my fav. :O(

ANYWAY we will focus on movies the kids haven't seen like Tarzan, Lilo and Stitch, Mary Poppins, 101 Dalmations, Snow White and Peter Pan (which they have seen but may forget)

we may add in a bit of Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse too. thats a lot of movies and a lot of tv.

 

[elastigirlfan]

I wasn't sure if you had boys or girls but I picked Cinderella, Alladin, and Peter Pan.

Cinderella is my favorite classic. Peter Pan is just pure Disney...all about magic and "never growing up" and Alladin I think both boys and girls like. They have the Magic Carpets ride based on the movie Alladin and a Peter Pan ride as well (which I highly recommend....I Love that ride). Hope that helps. Enjoy whichever movies you choose....you can't wrong in whatever you pick!!

 

[athenna]

I voted for my favorite Snow White!
After all, she is the one that started it all

 

[Sleeping Jedi Beauty]

Any movie that Walt made should be seen before going to any Disney park. I also recommend renting the Disney cartoon DVDs that have been released so you can see Mickey, Goofy, Donald, Minnie, and Chip & Dale in action. Much of the Disney magic is tied into seeing beloved stories come to life in stage shows, attractions, characters walking around the park, etc. I think the characters and attractions based off of movies are what really set Disney apart from every other park.

Walt died in 1966, so films from the post Walt era that must be seen are The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King. These are the only films since Walt that measure up to Walt's standard. Aladdin is really funny, but the humor is very clearly rooted in the early nineties. It's worth seeing though for the Genie's Disney vacation sight gag at the end of the movie. Of any Disney movie post-Lion King, Lilo & Stitch is the only one that you may want to watch as Stitch is very popular with kids. It's not a must see though.

It's also a good idea to watch all Pixar films since they're well made and hearken back to Walt's era as far as story quality goes.

While some don't have attractions made yet, a certain character may really resonate with your family. And seeing all the classics will make the ending of Fantasmic and seeing Wishes more powerful because those shows are literally based off of Disney films.

I also recommend Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 for the Socrcer's Apprentice sequence. Disney frequently uses Mickey's costume from this film, and his hat features very prominently in Mickey's Philharmagic, a classic Disney attraction that cannot be missed. Watching the Disney movies that many have suggested in this thread will make your Disney vacation more enjoyable because you will better appreciate some of the little things Disney has done in the parks and the characters will have more meaning since you'll know who they are.

 

[pperfectmom]

I've been trying to find a reputable trader on ebay that sells some of the older movies, but i don't trust these overseas vendors. I bought a copy of "The Little Mermaid" unknowingly and it is obviously a fake copy . I really want "Fantasia" because it's my favorite and I think my DD(3) will love the music with the characters. I also want to see "Peter Pan" and 101 Dalmations before we go. We'll be staying at ASMo, so I want the kids to appreciate the characters. We have Cinderella, Mary Poppins, Incredibles, Nemo, the original Winnie the Pooh and my DD's all-time favorite "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" . If I have to watch the Nazis fighting the suits of armor again I am going to scream . I'm sure WDW is full of images from that classic-not! I think all kids need to know the real characters like Mickey, Goofy, Donald etc. I guess I'm old-fashioned because I don't like most of the new cartoons and the music is IMO for the most part terrible. Stick with the classics and you can't go wrong.

 

[Sunkissed]

I agree that you should start with the classics, esp. those that are represented in the parks. If you are planning on visiting Disney-MGM, there are two stage shows based on The Little Mermaid and Beauty & The Beast (my personal favorite), as well.

 

[Terk-1]

I voted for other. If you are going with little one's, I'd recommend the Disney Sing-A-Long videos. We did this when my nephews were little to get them used to what the characters will look like at the parks. It helped alot, as they recognized alot of them and were not scared.

For movies, I'd start with Cinderella, then do the Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Lion King, Beauty & the Beast, and so on.

 

[Karnak]

That's a no brainer for me. Snow White was the FIRST animated feature ever made, so I'd watch it FIRST.

Enjoy.

 

[isla bonita]

I recomend the Jungle Book it was my boys favorite and now my daughters because of the music.

 

[thelionqueen]

I would pick Toy Story 1st. Just seems to get the blood flowing. But from the choices you posted, I picked Beauty & the Beast.

 

[liamandcaili]

I don't know if you have young children or not, but I picked Cinderella. It was the first Disney movie I showed DS (who loved it so much he suggested we name DD Cinderella!) and then later DD. It is not as scary as some of the other Disney movies, and my children really loved all the scenes with the mice and other animals.

My children are 7 and 4 and they have seen all the movies on your list. DD's favorite isn't listed though...Lady and the Tramp. She also loves Fantasia. She has a thing for Mickey.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I'd start with some of the Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Chip N dale Cartoons.